Method and apparatus for rolling an elongated metal body to form a profiled cross section



' Jan. 11, 1966 E. scHNEcKENBURGl-:R 3,228,220 METHOD AND APPARATUS FORROLLING AN ELONGATED METAL BODY TO FORM A PROFILED CROSS SECTION 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23, 1962 mm. @M xm. mk

' Jan. 11, 196e Filed Nov. 25, 1962 E. SCHNECKENBURGER METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR ROLLING AN ELONGATED METAL BODY TO FORM A PROFILED CROSSSECTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 1l, 1966 E.SCHNECKENBURGER 3,228,220

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROLLING AN ELONGATED METAL BODY FORM A PROFILEDCROSS SECTION Filed Nov. 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR BY /MMyne/M ATTORNEYS Jan. 11, 1966 SCHNECKENBURG 3,228,220

METHOD AND APPAR S FOR ROLLING ELON A ED METAL BODY TO FORM A PROFILED CS SECTION Filed Nov. 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'e s O w w m w INVENTORfM/z cmfrfrfn/aae'e RL BY M @Myyjm ATTORNEYS United States Patent O3,228,220 METHOD AND APPARATUS FR ROLLING AN ELUNGATED METAL BODY TOFURM A PRO- FELED CROSS SECTION Emil Schneckenhurger, Emmenbruck,Switzerland, assignor to Aktiengesellschaft der von MoosSchenEisenwerke, Lucerne, Switzerland Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,595Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 2S, 1961, A 38,868 14 Claims.(Cl. 72-16) The essential difiiculty in rolling elongated metal bodies,such as rods and bars to form a desired profiled cross section, forexample, an angle or channel section, consists in ensuring correctfilling of the grooves in the rolls so that the section is fully formed`while maintaining the required dimensions within narrow limits, withoutforming fins. In order to comply with this requirement it has hithertobeen customary to roll out sections in a plurality of passes, generallyin from three to seven passes. By dividing the rolling work over anumber of passes the reduction in the individual passes can be keptsmall and may be varied to permit distribution of the Work in anydesired manner over the individual passes, while by suitably designingthe rolls for the individual passes a determined ow ratio of thematerial can be ensured.

Apart from older three-high mills in which the grooves for theindividual passes are distributed over the length of the rolls, therolling out of sections in a number of passes, on the average ve passes,requires a rolling mill having a correspondingly large number of millstands and a correspondingly large roll inventory. Thes-e roll standsare generally disposed as the last group in the line of a continuousmill train, so that during the period required for 1re-equipping thisgroup all preceding mill stands also have to be stopped. It is true thatheretofore a plurality of finishing mill groups operated in parallelhave been allocated to the roughing groups and these finishing millgroups have been operated alternately in order to ensure extensiveutilization of the roughing groups, but this entails greater expense formachinery. In addition, the rolling mill must be followed by auxiliaryequipment, such as cooling means and straightening and stretchingdevices, capable of processing the production of the rolling millimmediately, unless special intermediate storage means are provided.Since however on the average only about to 15% of the production of alight rolling mill is constituted by profiled sections, the extensiveauxiliary equipment the through-put of which is adapted to that of therolling mill is poorly utilised. The rolling ymill itself can also notbe fully utilised, since the delivery speed `of the mill stand islimited by the maximum delivery speed in the cooling bed, whereas therolling mill would itself permit higher delivery speeds. Theabovementioned disadvantages in the rolling out of sections havehitherto been accepted as unavoidable.

The invention proceeds from the fact that in hot rolling the temperatureat which the material is rolled out eX- erts considerable influence onthe flow conditions of the material in the roll gap in the usual rollingtemperature range, because the higher the temperature at which thematerial is rolled, the greater the elongation and the smaller thewidening of the material being rolled in the roll gap. As a result ofthe realisation by the inventor that the temperature at which therolling is carried out can influence the filling of the roll grooves inthe rolling out of sections, it is proposed according to the inventionto regulate the temperature of the material being rolled in accordancewith the degree of filling of the roll gaps in the rolling of sectionsin a single pass, the tempera- ICC ture of the incoming rolling stockbeing in particular reduced as the filling decreases. It has been foundthat the step according to the invention enables the flow conditions ofthe rolling stock in the roll gap to be influenced in such a manner thata single pass is sufficient to roll sections with clean shaping and goodquality of material starting from a customary round, square, orrectangular cross-section and with a pass reduction dependent on thesection to be produced, whereas hitherto it was thought that such`sections could be produced only in a plurality of passes.

Through the ability to roll sections in a single pass, the number ofrolls required is reduced on the average by four rolls per section t-obe rolled, which in itself provides a substantial saving in cost, whilethe number of stand-by stands required is also reduced.

When rolling with a roll groove not completely filled (FIGURE l1), theraising and also the lowering of the temperature of the incoming rollingstock is controlled in accordance with the width of the outgoing rollingstock. If it is desired to work with a full roll groove, incompletefilling of the groove can be readily detected and a consequent controlsignal obtained for reducing the temperature of the stock, suchreduction leading to an increased widening during rolling and hence toproper filling of the groove. However, a corresponding control signalfor increasing the stock temperature when necessary cannot beconveniently obtained since it would necessarily result from over llingof the groove, and such over filling would cause formation of fins onthe rolled product unless the roll pressures were very high. The controlsignal for raising the stock temperature may, therefore, be moreconveniently obtained by `detecting the reduction of the roll speed oroverloading of the roll driving motors which will `occur if thetemperature is too low and the widening of the stock is, therefore,excessive.

Sections are advantageously rolled by the method of the invention in aseparately erected and separately operated mill stand. This is advisableon the one hand because the method according to the invention ispreferably carried out at relatively low rolling speeds, if possibleunder 2 m./sec., since with higher rolling speeds and sections whichhave to be rolled out with a large pass reduction the bite or receivingcapacity of the rolls is no longer sufficient. On the other hand thisresults in uniform distribution of the production in the auxiliaryequipment, which therefore need be designed only for a substantiallylower output per hour.

Most sections to be produced can be rolled from coilable stock. Thestock can therefore be rolled at the highest possible `speed that is tosay Iwith full loading of the preceding rolling mill, since coilerspermit substantially higher final speeds, namely approximately twice ashigh as those of cooling beds to which the sections would otherwise haveto be discharged. In addition, a number of dierent sections can beproduced from one and the same stock, so that modication of thepreceding rolling mill is required far less frequently than in the caseof direct rolling of sections in small batches.

Owing to the fact that the rolling of sections in accordance with thisinvention is thus effected separately, the capacity of the precedingrolling mill can be considerably more intensively utilised. For thisreason and because of the smaller cost of equipment the saving isgreater than the cost incurred by re-heating of the rolling stock forrolling sections.

For many sections the method according to the invention provides veryconsiderable pass reductions of up to 70%. The receiving capacity of therolls is utilised to the uppermost limit with such pass reductions andaccordingly the bite of the rolls is far exceeded. The stock musttherefore be pointed or tapered to enable it to be introduced into therolls, or according to another feature of the invention, which ishowever known in itself, the rolls are set after the tip of the stockhas been introduced into the roll gap which is opened for that purpose,this being a simpler procedure.

Through the pointing or tapering of the stock, or its introduction intothe roll gap which is previously opened, a loss of material results. Theheating of the stock through, in order to enable the temperature to beaccurately adjusted in accordance with the filling of the roll groovesis effected in a second or later heating stage, so that a waste piecealso occurs at the end of the stock. Such heating is preferably carriedout electrically, through resistance heating of the stock by passage ofthe current therethrough between two sets of contact rollers bearing onthe stock. The economy of the method according to the invention can beincreased if according to another feature of the invention, whichhowever is known in itself, and with the particular object of reducingwastage the pieces of stock being rolled one after the other are firstwelded together so that rolling can be carried out continuously.

Since the receiving capacity of the rolls must be very extensivelyutilised when rolling sections with a large pass reduction, according toanother feature of the invention the stock should be fed to the rollsWithout or substantially without tension.

According to another feature of the invention it is also advisable forthe stock to be pulled from the rolls under a tension sufficient tomaintain the same straight in order to counteract a tendency to curvesideways, which may exist in the case of certain sections. tension maybe increased up to a value limited by the cross-section and strength ofthe material, although experience to date has shown that the applicationof a tension sufficient to influence the fiow conditions in the roll gapis not necessary.

Some exemplary embodiments of the invention in details of rolling millssuitable for carrying out the method of the invention are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows one example -of the construction of a rolling mill,

FIGURES 2 and 3 show details thereof,

FIGURE 4 shows an elevation of another embodiment,

FIGURE 5 shows a corresponding plan View,

FIGURE 6 a detail thereof,

FIGURE 7 shows an elevation of a modification of the embodimentillustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5,

FIGURE 8 a detail thereof in plan view,

FIGURE 9 shows an example of the construction of a rolling mill,

FIGURE 10 an example of the construction of a mill stand drive,

FIGURE l1 a roll groove which always works with incomplete filling, and

FIGURES 12 to 17 show sections of incoming steel and the respectiveoutgoing steel rolled in a single pass.

The core of the rolling mill both in the embodiment illustrated inFIGURE 1 and in that illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5 is a mill stand 1which is preceded by stands 2a and 2b receiving Contact roll sets andfollowed by an auxiliary stand 3. The stock fed to the mill stand 1 isdesignated by 4 and the outgoing rolled stock is designated by 5.

The incoming stock 4 is heated to rolling temperature by electricresistance heating. From the transformer 6 the output of which isadjustable the current is fed to and taken from the stock 4 through theContact roller sets mounted in the stands 2a and 2b. While the stand 2bis mounted fast on a bed plate 7, the stand 2a is mounted on a slide 7aadapted to travel on the bed plate 7 in the longitudinal direction ofthe stock 4, for which purpose there is provided a threaded spindle 8mounted in the bed In special cases the plate 7 and rotatable by meansof a handwheel 8a, the said spindle engaging in a nut on the slide 7a.The movability of the stand 2a is provided in order to enable thedistance between the contact roller sets mounted in the stands 2a and 2band hence the length of the resistance path in the stock 4 to beadjusted in accordance with the cross-section of the latter, while thefine regulation is effected in the primary circuit of the transformer 6.

The regulation of the heating current (movement of the stand 2a,regulation of output of transformer 6) can be effected by measuring thetemperature of the incoming stock 4 or, as in the case of the embodimentillustrated by way of example in FIGURE l, of the outgoing stock 5 bymeans of a radiation pyrometer 10. The measured temperature of the stockis continuously compared with a reference value and the heating of thestock is controlled to bring the measured temperature into equality withthe reference value. The latter is itself determined by the degree offilling of the roll groove as determined, for example, by continuousmeasurement of the rolled product and comparison of the result of suchmeasuree ment with predetermined dimensional standards. Thus, it will beseen that the degree of filling of the grooves is continuously measuredand determines the temperature reference value which in its turndetermines the heating and hence the temperature of the stock. Thecontrol is so arranged that if the degree of filling of the roll groovedecreases, the reference temperature is decreased and hence the stocktemperature is decreased to a value at which the increased widening ofthe stock during rolling will fill the roll groove and similarly, if thedegree of fi1ling of the roll groove is excessive the stock temperatureis raised.

Preferably the continuous measurements and comparison of temperature andgroove filling are carried out automatically by suitable known devicesand control circuits of known type, which will not be described indetail. However, manual control by one or more operators is possible.Thus an operator may observe the dimensions of the rolled product andmanually adjust the temperature reference value in accordance with apredetermined relation between temperature and rolled dimensions. Alsothe actual temperature can be controlled by an operator manuallycontrolling the heating current or contact spacing in accordance with anindicated value of the reference temperature. It will be clear that ineither automatic or manual operation, the stock temperature is adjustedto a desired value depending on the degree of filling of the rollgroove.

The intermediate step of establishing a temperature reference valuecould be omitted. Thus, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 hasfollowing the mill stand 1 an apparatus 11 for continuous measurement ofthe main dimension of the outgoing rolled material, this actual valuebeing compared with an index value and the heat current being regulatedin accordance with the resulting deviation in dimensions of the rolledmaterial, the main dimension selected being one which at the same timegives an indication of the degree of filling of the roll grooves, forexample the width in the case of a flat section.

The auxiliary stand 3 following the mill stand 1 can serve many diversepurposes. Thus it can for example serve as an extraction driver for thepurpose of pulling the outgoing rolled material from the rolls undertension. It can moreover be used for equalising the rolled section, forwhich purpose it is then disposed, as in the embodiments illustrated,with rolls offset by in relation to the rolls of the mill stand 1. I Theauxiliary stand 3 also permits the production of sections havingundercut portions, for example of sections having a dovetail-shapedlongitudinal groove or a projecting tongue of dove-tail shape. For thispurpose a section having av rollable groove and corresponding beads atthe groove edges is produced in the mill stand 1. The beads at thegroove edges are then rolled down in the auxiliary stand 3 so that thedesired dovetail-shaped groove is produced. For the example mentioned,the auxiliary stand 3 would then be disposed differently from theembodiments illustrated, its rolls lying parallel to the rolls of themill stand 1 or lying in any other desired position.

As has already been mentioned above, it is possible in many cases, thatis to say in the case of small sections and certain medium-sizedsections, to use coiled material as the initial stock, that is to say tofeed the stock from a coil, as is the case in the embodiment illustratedin FIG- URE l. The coil is designated by 12 and is mounted on a freelyrotatable drum 13. A straightening machine 14 is provided which drawsthe stock 4 from the drum 13 and straightens it. The working speed ofthe straightening machine 14 is adapted to the speed at which the stock4 is drawn in by the rolls of the rolling mill 1, so that the stock 4can be fed to the rolling mill 1 without tension or without anyappreciable tension.

The requirement that the stock 4 should be fed to the rolls withouttension or substantially Without tension is fulfilled in a particularlysimple manner in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The drum13 with its stand and the straightening machine 14 are mounted on acommon base or carriage 15. The carriage 15 is provided with wheels 16supported on rails 17 and can travel freely in the longitudinaldirection of the stock 4. The rails 17 slope downwardly very slightlyaway from the mill stand, i.e. in a direction opposite to the directionof feed of the stock 4 so that the carriage 15 has a very slighttendency to roll on its Wheels 16 along the rails 17 until the foremostwheels 16 engage the blocks 17a at the end of the rails 17. The carriage15 with the drum 13 and the straightening machine 14 is situated in thisposition before the rolling operation starts. The point or tapered endof the stock 4 is then introduced into the straightening machine 14which pulls the stock 4 from the drum 13 until the point or tapered endis disposed in the opened gap between the rolls of the rnill stand 1.The heating current is then switched on and heats the stock 4 situatedbetween the contact roller sets of the stands 2a and 2b to rollingtemperature. The upper roll in the stand 1 is then screwed down by meansof the screw-down gear 9 until the stock is gripped by the rolls. Whenthe stock 4 heated to rolling temperature runs into the roll gap of themill `stand 1, the top roll of the mill stand 1 is screwed down furtheruntil the groove in the rollers is closed in accordance with the desiredsection and the actual rolling begins. The straightening machine 14 isdriven by a motor 20 through a transmission having a steplessly variabletransmission ratio. In the embodiment illustrated the transmissionprovided is a V-belt drive 21, in which the cone pulley 22a of thedriving cone pulley pair 22a, 22b is mounted non-rotatably butdisplaceably in the axial direction, while the cone 2211 is fixed on ashaft 23 coupled to the motor 2t) which is mounted on a base 24. Theaxial displacement of the one cone pulley 22a is eected by means of afork 25 which through a shaft 26 is nonrotatably connected to a lever27. The lever 27 carries a roller 28 which is urged by a spring 29against a fixed cam 30 (see in particular FIGURE 2). In the startingposition of the carriage 15 together with the drum 13 and thestraightening machine 14, in which the foremost wheels 16 of thecarriage 15 lie against the blocks 17a at the end of the rails 17, theroller 28 makes contact with the cam 36 at a point where the height ofthe cam 35 is slight. The cone pulley 22a is thus situated at acorrespondingly great distance from the cone pulley 22b and the V-belt21 makes contact with the cone pulleys 22a and 22h on a correspondinglysmall diameter and is thus driven with a correspondingly low peripheralspeed by the motor running at constant speed. In this position thestraightening machine 14 runs at its lowest working speed. Since thestock 4 is in every case drawn in at higher speed by the rolls of themill stand 1, the straightening machine 14 together with its carriage 15and hence also the drum 13 is pulled towards the mill stand 1. Theroller 28 is thus brought into a region of greater height of the cam 30and through the lever 27, the shaft 26, and the fork 25 reduces thedistance between the cone pulleys 22a and 22h, so that the V-belt 21lies against the cone pulleys 22a and 22h on a larger diameter, wherebyits peripheral speed and hence the working speed of the straighteningmachine are increased until the latter corresponds to the speed at whichthe stock 4 is drawn in by the rolls of the mill stand 1. The stock 4 isthereby subjected only to the smaller tension resulting from thecarriage 15 together with the straightening machine 14 and the drum 13tending to move on the inclined rails 17 against the direction ofmovement of the stock 4. In order to enable this tension force to bekept as small as possible, the rails 17 are mounted on a rocker 18 theinclination of which can be adjusted by adjusting means 19.

The requirement that the stock 4 should run to the rolls without tensionor substantially Without tension can of course also be complied with inother ways. Thus the straightening machine drawing the stock 4 from thestorage reel, or any other driving device could be mounted stationaryand be driven at a regulable speed, while the speed could be regulatedin a known manner, for example in accordance with the size of a loop ofstock, between the straightening machine or driving device and the firststand 2a of the contact rollers.

If the desired quantity of a section cannot be rolled from a singlecoil, it is advisable for the purpose of reducing wastage and avoidingloss of time to weld the end of a new coil of stock to the end of apreceding coil of stock, as is generally customary in wire working.

The outgoing rolled material can be coiled if the section permits this.For this purpose coilers of known constructions can be used. A coiler ofthe type illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3 can be used with particularadvantage. This coiler consists of a drum 31 of which one part 31a iscylindrical and the other part 31h slightly conical. The drum 31 ismounted rotatably on a stationary journal 32 and joined to an internallytoothed rim 33. A pinion 34 meshing with the teeth of the internallytoothed rim drives the drum 31 with the aid of a motor 35 through atransmission 36 which serves at the same time as a support for the drum31. The motor 35 is so regulated that the stock 5 is always pulled fromthe rolls of the mill stand 1 with a tension which straightens the stock5. The auxiliary stand 3 can therefore be dispensed with, unless it isrequired for equalising or additional rolling. The journal 32 on whichthe drum 31 is mounted is provided with a bearing point 37 for a disc 38the axis of which lies at a slight angle to the main axis of the journal32. As the drurn 31 rotates the disc 38 therefore wobbles in the drum31. The disc 38 is provided with fingers 38a which extend through slits31a` in the portion 31a of the drum 31. These fingers 38a continuouslypush off the stock 5 running on to the portion 31a of the drum 31 untilit reaches the portion 31h from where it can then be taken off in coilsof desired size. The stroke performed by the fingers 38a in theirrotation is determined by the inclination of the axis of the bearingpoint 37 in relation to the main axis of the journal 32 and the strokeshould be somewhat larger than the width of the widest section to becoiled.

If it is not possible, or if for reasons of storage it is not convenientto feed stock from a coil, that is to say with coiled stock, the stock 4can also be supplied in billet form as in the case of the embodimentillustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5. The individual billets are taken froma suitable storage means 40, for which purpose cross-pushers 41 and aforward pusher 42 are provided.

When billets are used it is particularly to lnerecommended that thesuccessive billets being rolled 1should be welded together. For thispurpose there is provided-in a known manner a movably mounted buttwelding machine 43 which in each case welds a new billet to the end ofthe billet 4 entering the mill stand 1 as soon as a length of the billethas run into the mill stand 1. The welding machine 43 can have aseparate propulsion drive or can be carried in one direction by thebillet to be rolled. If necessary a device for removing weld beads(milling cutter, or the like) can also be disposed between the weldingmachine 43 and the stand 2a, as well as a driving device orstraightening machine.

For sections which cannot be coiled after rolling, a delivery table 45is provided 'following the mill stand 1 in the embodiment illustrated inFIGURES 4 and 5. In this case the auxiliary stand 3 is used asextraction driver in order to draw the stock from ythe rolls of the millstand 1 with a tension which straightens it. A stop switch 46 isprovided at the end of the delivery table 45 and when operated byengagement with the stock 5 lights up a signal lamp 47. A cutting device48, which is adapted to travel on a rail S0 carried by supports 49, isat the same time operated by hand or by the stop switch 46. During thecutting operation the cutting device 4S travels with the stock 5. Oncompletion of the cut the 4cutting device 48 returns to the startingposition, for which purpose the rail S@ is disposed at a suitable angle.A trough 52 is pivotally suspended on supports 51 above the deliverytable 45. As soon as the parting cut has been completed .and a sectionof desired length has been cut from the outgoing rolled material 5, itis delivered on to a chute 53 from the delivery table 45 by pivotalmovement of the trough 52. By way of the chute 53 the section passesinto a receiving trough 54 which allows it to slide on to a stackingsite 55 (see in particular FIGURE 6).

Instead of the delivery table 45 a cooling bed or an extractor trucksuch as is customary in drawing mills can also be used. An extractortruck 56 can be used, as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8. Two .extractortrucks could also be.used, Which in a known manner continuously draw outthe rolled material in alternating small strokes, the cutting device 4Sthen being disposed after the extractor trucks. When extractor trucksare used, the auxiliary stand 3 can once again be dispensed with, unlessit is needed for equalising or supplementary rol-ling.

In the embodiments described the heating of the rolled material torolling temperature has been eiected exclusively by electric resistanceheating. This heating has the advantage of easy regulability. This does-not mean that the invention is restricted `to this type of heating. Gasor oil-red continuous furnaces can also be advantageously utilisedaccording to the invention, preference being in fact given to thesefurnaces if the stock to be heated has a relatively large cross-section.The combination of a furnace for pre-heating with an electric resistanceheating device for the further `heating ,of the stock to a determinedand regulated temperature can also be particularly advantageous.Pre-heating is preferably elected to a temperature lying slightlybeneath the scaling limit, that is to say about 600 to 650 C. Thepre-heating can be effected in any desired furnace, for example in thecaseV of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 the billetstorage means 40 may be replaced by a furnace 40a. It is however alsopossible to use a continuous furnace which could then be disposed inadvance of the welding device 43 and in advance of the stand 2a.

One example of the construction of a set of rolls is illustrated inFIGURE 9. The set is provided for rolling a U or channel section. Therolls in this embodiment consist of a core and roll rings mountedthereon and held by a nut. Thus the top roll consists of the core 61,the roll rings 62, 63, and 64 and the nut 65. ,The lower roll consistsof the core 66, the roll rings 67, 68, and 69 and the nut 70. In thecase of all rolls which in Iaccordance with the groove to be rolled haveroll surfaces which are radially at or substantially radially ilat,against which the stock slides with considerable transverse force andwhich are thus subject to wear, it is advisable for the roll to becomposed, as in the embodiment illustrated, of a core on which rollrings are mounted. Thus the proiile of the set of rolls can berepeatedly modied in the embodiment illustrated by repacing the rollring 63 of the top roll and re-machining the roll rings.

In the ease of sections which do not require radially flat orsubstantially radially at roll surfaces, for example angles, the rollcan be made in one piece since rolls of this type can be ire-machinedwithout difficulty.

In order to produce a cleanly shaped section free from fins, anabsolutely closed roll groove is necessary in the case of most sections.The groove joint between the top roll and bottom roll should be heldclosed under pressure when rolling such sections, Afor which purpose therolls are provided with body surfaces 71 which make `contact with oneanother un'der pressure and which lie in the groove joint. The distancebetween the rolls and the pass parting are thus at the same timeaccurately determined.

In order that the flow of material may adjust itself freely, .it isadvisable for only one roll to be positively driven. The second roll mayeither be entirely without drive, as is the `case with the set of rollsillustrated in FIGURE 9, or it can be provided with an auxiliary drive.The auxiliary drive provided can, for example, be of the type having adrive which is automatically switched ol after the initial entry of thestock. Another possible construction orf the auxiliary drive is shown inlthe embodiment illustrated by way of example in FIGURE l0. Here the toproll 72 is driven by an articulated spindle 73 and gearing 74 by a fixedspeed main drive motor 75 which determines the rolling speed. The lowerroll '76, on the other hand, is driven through an articulated spindle.'77 and gearing 78 ,by an auxiliary drive motor 79 the speed of whichis adjustable and at the same time provides a limited power output.

In the case off non-symmetrical sections there is a danger that theincoming stock will run sideways in the direction of the largest grooveopening.

This incorrect running may in certain circumstances have the eiTect thatthe roll groove will be lilled on one side only despite all precautions.In order to prevent the incoming material from running sideways in thisway, according to the invention a transversely displaceable inlet guideis provided for the stock in front of the rolls, whereby a determineddistribution of material in the roll groove can be obtained. Rigid rollguides are particularly suitable :for this purpose.

FIGURE 11 shows on a greatly enlarged scale a roll groove which issuccessfully used for producing sections for umbrella rods. The rollgroove formed by the top roll and lbottom roll 86 is lled during rollingonly to the width shown in black. If the widening of the stock in thegroove becomes greater or smaller, the excess or deliciency, as comparedwith the required width of the section, is measured and the temperatureof the incoming stock is varied in accordance with the result of themeasurement until the required width oct the section is once moreattained.

FIGURES 12 to 17 show side by side cross-sections of incoming stock(round or square sections) and opposite each of them the sections whichhave been rolled from them in a single pass.

The methodV according to the invention is primarily applicable to carbonsteels but may also be used with alloyed steels, for example manganese,chromium, nickel, and molybdenum stools. However, it can also lbeemployed successfully in the rolling of non-ferrous metals, such aslforexample aluminium.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that fwhich isshown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only aslindicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A method of rolling an elongated metal body to form a profiled icrosssection, said method comprising the steps of heating said body to adesired rolling temperature by passing a predetermined electric currentthrough a predetermined length thereof, passing the heated body in asingle pass through `a roll groove defined between rolls of a rollingstand to roll said body into said profiled form, and continuouslyregulating the temperature to which said body is heated in accordancewith the degree of filling of said roll groove by said body, saidtemperature being increased when said roll groove is over filled andbeing decreased when said roll groove is insufiiciently filled.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of saidbody after rolling is continuously measured 4and compared with apredetermined reference dimension and said continuous regulation of saidtemperature is performed in accordance with the difference between saidmeasured dimension and said reference dimension to reduce saiddifference.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising the steps of continuouslymeasuring at least one dimension of said body after rolling, comparingsaid dimension with said predetermined reference dimension, determiningby a predetermined relation from the difference between said measureddimension and said reference dimension a reference temperature adaptedto ensure correct filling of said roll groove, continuously measuringthe temperature of said heated body and comparing said measuredtemperature with said reference temperature, and regulating thetemperature to which said body is heated to reduce the differencebetween said measured temperature and said reference temperature.

4. A method of rolling an elongated metal body to form a profiled lcrosssection, said method comprising the steps of heating said body to adesired rolling temperature by passing a predetermined electric current\through a predetermined length thereof, passing the heated body in asingle pass through a roll groove defined between rolls of a rollingstand to roll said body into said profiled form, continuously detectingthe degree of filling of said roll groove by said body, and continuouslyregulating the temperature to which said body is heated in accordancewith the degree of filling of said roll groove by said body, saidtemperature being increased when said roll groove is over filled andbeing decreased when said roll groove is insufficiently filled.

5. A method of rolling an elongated metal body in a single pass betweentwo parallel cooperating rolls of a mill stand to form a profiled crosssection, said method comprising the steps 1of separating Said rolls,inserting the leading end of said body between said rolls, heating saidbody to a desired rolling temperature by passing a predeterminedelectric current through a predetermined length thereof, closing saidrolls, passing the heated body in a single pass through a roll groovedefined between said rolls to roll said body into said profiled form,continuously detecting the degree of filling of said roll groove by saidbody, and lcontinuously regulating the temperature to which said body isheated in accordance with the degree of filling of said roll groove bysa-id body, said temperature being increased when s-aid roll groove isover filled and being decreased when said roll groove is insufficientlyfilled.

6. A method of rolling an elongated metal body to form a profiled crosssection, said method comprising the steps of heating said body to adesired rolling temperature by passing a predetermined electric currentthrough a predetermined length thereof, passing the heated body in asingle pass through a roll groove defined between rolls of a rollingstand to roll said body into said profiled form, continuously detectingthe degree of filling of said roll groove by said body, and continuouslyregulating the temperature to which said body is heated in accordancewith the degree of filling of said roll groove by said body, saidtemperature being increased when said roll groove is over filled andbeing decreased when said roll groove is insufficiently filled, and saidbody being fed to said rolls at least substantially without tension.

7. A method of rolling an elongated metal body to form a profiled crosssection, said method comprising the steps of heating said body to adesired rolling temperature by passing a predetermined electric currentthrough a predetermined length thereof, passing the heated body in asingle pass through a roll groove defined between rolls of a rollingstand to roll said body into said profiled form, continuously detectingthe degree of filling of said roll groove by said body, and continuouslyregulating the temperature to which said body is heated in accordancewith the degree of filling of said roll groove by said body, saidtemperature being increased when said roll groove is over filled andbeing decreased when said roll groove is insufiiciently filled, and saidbody being withdrawn from said rolls under a tension sufficient tostraighten said body.

8. Apparatus for rolling an elongated metal body in a single rollingpass to form a desired profiled cross section, said apparatus comprisinga rolling stand having two rolls which between them define a roll groovefor rolling said desired cross section on said body, two spacedelectrical contact means engaging said body for passing a predeterminedelectric heating current through a predetermined length of said bodybefore rolling to heat the body, the distance between said Contact meansand the magnitude of said current being adjustable, whereby said bodycan be heated to a desired rolling temperature, means for measuring atleast one dimension of said body after rolling, means for determiningthe difference between said dimension and a predetermined dimension, andmeans for Varying the distance between said contact means for adjustingthe temperatures to which said body is heated by said heating current soas to reduce said difference.

9. Apparatus for rolling an elongated metal body in a single rollingpass to form a desired profiled cross section, said apparatus comprisinga rolling stand having two rolls which between them define a roll groovefor rolling said desired cross section on said body, two spacedelectrical Contact means engaging said body f-or passing a predeterminedelectric heating current through a predetermined length of said bodybefore rolling to heat said body, the distance between said contactmeans and the magnitude of said current being adjustable whereby saidbody can be heated to a desired rolling temperature, means for measuringat least one dimension of said body after rolling, means for determiningthe difference between said dimension and a predetermined dimension,means for determining from said difference a reference temperatureadapted to ensure correct filling of said roll groove, means formeasuring the temperature of said body after heating, means fordetermining the difference between said temperature and said referencetemperature, and means for varying the distance between said contactmeans for adjusting the temperature to which said body is heated by saidheating currents so as to reduce said last mentioned difference.

10. Apparatus for rolling an elongated metal body in a single rollingpass to form a desired profiled cross section, said apparatus comprisinga rolling stand having two adjustable rolls which between them define aroll groove for rolling said desired cross section on said body, twospaced electrical contact means engaging said body for passing apredetermined electric heating current through a predetermined length ofsaid body before rolling, the distance between said contact means andthe magnitude of said current being adjustable whereby said body can beheated to a desired rolling temperature, a freely rotatable drum Vforsupporting a coiled supply of stock, a straightening machine forwithdrawing said stock from said drum and feeding the same to said rollstand, a common `support carriage 'for said drum and said machine, saidsupport carriage being movable toward and away from said roll stand,.and driving means for said machine comprising a steplessly variabletransmission and means for varying the transmission ratio of saidtransmission in accordance'with the position of said support carriage,whereby the speed of said machine is increased as said carriageapproaches said roll stand.

11. Apparatus according to claim comprising tiltable means on which saidcarriage rests and moves, the inclination of said tiltable meansrelative to the direction of motion of said carriage being adjustable.

12. Apparatus for rolling an elongated metal body in a single rollingpass t-o form a desired proled cross section, said apparatus comprisinga rolling stand having two adjustable rolls which between them define aroll groove for rolling said desired cross section on said body, twospaced electrical .Contact means engaging said body for passing apredetermined electric heating current through a predetermined length ofsaid body before rolling, the distance between said Contact means andthe magnitude of said current being adjustable whereby said body can beheated to a desired rolling temperature, and a coiler for coiling saidbody after rolling, said coiler comprising a fixed shaft, a ceiling drumhaving slots therein and journaled on said shaft, said shaft having anoblique portion, a disk journaled on said oblique portion, and fingerson said disk projecting through the slots in said drum in the regionwhere said body first engages said drum, whereby upon rotation of saiddrum said disk will wobble on said shaft and said ngers will oscillateto slide said coiled body along said drum.

13. Apparatus for rolling an elongated metal body in a single rollingpass t0 form a desired protiled cross section, said apparatus comprisinga rolling stand having two rolls which between them define a roll groovefor rolling said desired cross section on said body, two spacedelectrical contact means engaging said body for passing a predeterminedelectric heating current through a predetermined length of said bodybefore rolling to heat the body, the distance between said contact meansand the magnitude of said current being adjustable, whereby said bodycan be heated to a desired rolling temperature, means for measuring atleast one dimension of said body after rolling, means for determiningthe difference between said dimension and a predetermined dimension, andmeans for varying the magnitudeof said heating current for adjusting thetemperature to which said body is heated by said heating current so asto reduce said difference.

14. Apparatus for rolling an elongated metal body in a single rollingpass to form a desired profiled cross section, said apparatus comprisinga rolling stand having two rolls which between them define a roll groovefor rolling said desired cross section on said body, two spacedelectrical 1Contact means engaging said body for passing a predeterminedelectric heating current through a predetermined length of said bodybefore rolling to heat said body, the distance between said contactmeans and the magnitude of said current being adjustable whereby saidbody can be heated to a desired rolling temperature, means for measuringat least one dimension of said body after rolling, means for determiningthe difference between said dimension and a predetermined dimension,mea-ns -for determining from said diiierence a reference temperatureadapted to insure correct filling of said roll groove, means formeasuring the temperature of said body after heating, means fordetermining the difference between said temperature .and said referencetemperature, and means for varying the magnitude of said heating currentfor adjusting the temperature to which said body is heated by saidheating current so as to reduce said last mentioned difference.

References` Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,316 4/1912Hurwitz 205 1,336,177 4/1920 Withers 80-54 1,590,854 6/1926 Rothera etal. 80-54 1,655,886 1/1928 Baehr 80-58 2,138,982 12/1938 Raydt 80-322,296,683 9/1942 Morgan et al. 80-43.3 2,313,702 3/1943 Allen 80-22,393,702 1/1946 Naegeli 153-95 2,863,557 12/1958 Munker 207-2 FOREIGNPATENTS 862,922 12/1940 France.

896,332 ll/l'3 Germany.

519,409 3/ 1940 Great Britain.

CHARLES w. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM J. srEPHENsoN, Examiner,

1. A METHOD OF ROLLING AN ELONGATED METAL BODY TO FORM A PROFILED CROSSSECTION, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF HEATING SAID BODY TO ADESIRED ROLLING TEMPERATURE BY PASSING A PREDETERMINED ELECTRIC CURRENTTHROUGH A PREDETERMINED LENGTH THEREOF, PASSING THE HEATED BODY IN ASINGLE PASS THROUGH A ROLL GROOVE DEFINED BETWEEN ROLLS OF A ROLLINGSTAND TO ROLL SAID BODY INTO SAID PROFILED FORM, AND CONTINUOUSLYREGULATING THE TEMPERATURE TO WHICH SAID BODY IS HEATED IN ACCORDANCEWITH THE DEGREE OF FILLING OF SAID ROLL GROOVE BY SAID BODY, SAIDTEMPERATURE BEING INCREASED WHEN SAID ROLL GROOVE IS OVER FILLED ANDBEING DECREASED WHEN SAID ROLL GROOVE IS INSUFFICIENTLY FILLED. 13.APPARATUS FOR ROLLING AN ELONGATED METAL BODY IN A SINGLE ROLLING PASSTO FORM A DESIRED PROFILED CROSS SECTION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AROLLING STAND HAVING TWO ROLLS WHICH BETWEEN THEM DEFINE A ROLL GROOVEFOR ROLLING SAID DESIRED CROSS SECTION ON SAID BODY, TWO SPACEDELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS ENGAGING SAID BODY FOR PASSING A PREDETERMINEDELECTRIC HEATING CURRENT THROUGH A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF SAID BODYBEFORE ROLLING TO HEAT THE BODY, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID CONTACT MEANSAND THE MAGNITUDE OF SAID CURRENT BEING ADJUSTABLE, WHEREBY SAID BODYCAN BE HEATED TO A DESIRED ROLLING TEMPERATURE, MEANS FOR MEASURING ATLEAST ONE DIMENSION OF SAID BODY AFTER ROLLING, MEANS FOR DETERMININGTHE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAID DIMENSION AND A PREDETERMINED DIMENSION, ANDMEANS FOR VARYING THE MAGNITUDE OF SAID HEATING CURRENT FOR ADJUSTINGTHE TEMPERATURE TO WHICH SAID BODY IS HEATED BY SAID HEATING CURRENT SOAS TO REDUCE SAID DIFFERENCE.